I cannot imagine a greater offense against man or God than the offense committed by the creators of the paraphrased Bibles. These books that are called Bibles are filled with lies. Even worse, you cannot always identify which Bibles are paraphrased because the new approach is "dynamic equivalent translations." That's just a deceiving term to cover up the fact that you are reading a lying paraphrase. The New International Version (NIV) is a "dynamic equivalent translation" and is clearly a lying paraphrase in many instances of its text. These are tough words, and I certainly do not desire to offend anyone. I have friends who use these Bibles, and I hurt to write in such a manner as will anger them. The church must have the undiluted truth.

As we progress in this article, I am going to prove to you that these books called Bibles are lies. What is a lie? The Old English dictionary that I use says the following, "lie - a false statement made with the intention of deceiving; anything misleading or of the nature of imposture: (with the) accusation of lying." (Chambers English Dictionary, W & R Chambers Ltd, Edinburgh, p. 824.) Notice the part of that meaning that says "anything misleading or of the nature of imposture." What if I should take quotes from anyone of the successful authors of our day and constantly change those quotes but never tell my readers what I had done. As those quotes were read that convey misinformation assigned to the original author, I would be in trouble. I could not imagine doing that to my worst possible enemy.

Let's say that I did that, and they sued me in court. Imagine that we are standing before the judge and my defense is being presented. I could say something like this, "All I did was put your words in a different arrangement so I could convey what I thought you intended to say. Yes, I lifted out some things that seemed unimportant to me and I added some other things that help convey what I thought you intended." The court would treat me like a crazy man, and I would be found guilty. Yet, that's exactly what the paraphrased Bibles have done.

The Spirit of God warned us about this matter with a stark warning. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19). After serving my Lord for fifty-two wonderful years, I cannot grasp why anyone would want to modernize or change truth. I do not write about these issues out of anger but with a hurting heart. These are God's eternal words. They have life and death in each of them. They are eternal truth not just a few stories.

The present best seller by Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, would have been condemned to the ash heap twenty to thirty years ago. Southern Baptist leaders and ministers of the past, the denomination in which I was raised, would have conducted a book burning in the church parking lots. But, because of the gradual effect of the lying paraphrases, it has become acceptable to use New Age ideas that saturate these corrupt Bibles. The Scriptures that I am going to show you prove beyond a doubt that they are lies and not God's infallible words.

Rick Warren's book is filled with these paraphrases. He proves one foolish idea after another with a quote from a corrupt Bible. He interweaves these corrupt quotes so skillfully that you have to be a master in discernment to detect his design. I have never read another book that gives so much credence to these questionable Bibles.

Let's review a large number of Scriptures and see the difference between truth and error. In most cases there is very little in the paraphrase to remotely suggest a connection. The Word of God is a living book that literally transforms the believing person that accepts and internalizes the truth. We dare not rob the Word of God of the power to redeem and work miracles. It was the miracle of the Word that transformed me, and I have never desired one thing from which the Word cleansed me.

First Scriptures

Rick Warren used several paraphrased verses from the New Living Translation in his chapter on "Becoming Best Friends with God." He quotes Apostle Paul, who states as translated in the King James Version, "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Romans 5:11, KJV). But, Rick Warren chose a paraphrased version because it fits his seeker-friendly theology. Now, look at the paraphrase. "Now, we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God - all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God." (Romans 5:11, New Living Translation).

After one sentence, he quotes another paraphrase. The verse he now quotes says in the word-for-word King James Bible, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ." (II Corinthians 5:18a, KJV). Mr. Warren quotes Jesus Christ as saying, "All this is done by God, who through Jesus Christ changed us from enemies into his friends." (II Corinthians 5:18a, Today's English Version). In both of these quotes the strong theological words of "atonement" and "reconciled" are passed over for the empty theology of "friends." No person that believes in the infallible Scripture can take this carelessly.

On that same page and in the same context, he gives another quote that shows no kin to truth in Holy Scripture. The King James Bible says, "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14, KJV). The author reaches again for his New Living Translation, "He is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you." (Exodus 34:14, New Living Translation). There is a lot of difference between a "passionate" God and a God that is "jealous" about His truths. Please note that the paraphrased lie called him "a God." This one page in Rick Warren's book labels it as a New Age book. All three of these quotes from the paraphrased lies were from one page of Rick Warren's book.

If you have this book, The Purpose Driven Life, stop your reading for a little research. Go through a few pages and look up each Scripture in a word-for-word translation and make a list of the changes. You owe it to yourself and to anyone to whom you might suggest reading this book.

This concern is far bigger than the book by Rick Warren. Let's take a look from Genesis to the New Testament at some of the varying problems in the lying paraphrases. I will start back in Genesis at two very important Scriptures. This will show that the translators, or should we say paraphrasers, are very careless with truth.

The First Messianic Prophecy

The words, which God spoke to Adam about the coming Messiah to redeem mankind, are beautiful words. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." (Genesis 3:15, KJV). This great statement is filled with promise that the seed of woman would bruise the very head of the serpent and strip away the venom of sin.

The Living Bible paraphrased this as follows: "From now on you and the woman will be enemies, as will all of your offspring and hers. And I will put the fear of you into the woman, and between your offspring and hers. He shall strike you on your head, while you will strike at his heel." (Genesis 3:15, The Living Bible). The seed of woman is called a "he" and "his" in the paraphrase. In the King James Version, the seed of woman is called an "it" and "thy" because the seed of woman is a lineage of the godly seed of woman, not a male person, which the Holy Ghost would preserve to assure the promise of the Messiah. It's apparent that the paraphrasers had no idea what they were translating.

The Great Story of the Ark

God commanded Noah to build an ark for the salvation of his family and the protection of the earth-bound animals. It is a Biblically perfect type of salvation by Jesus Christ. When the ark was finished, God spoke to Noah. "And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." (Genesis 7:1, KJV). This ark was also a type of the Rapture and redemption in the future that is yet to be fulfilled. Notice that God said, "Come ... into the ark," because God was speaking from inside where He would shut the door Himself.

Let's look at The Living Bible for this same text. "Finally the day came when the Lord said to Noah, 'Go into the boat with all your family, for among all the people of the earth, I consider you alone to be righteous.'" (Genesis 7:1, The Living Bible). The error cannot be missed. In one text God is speaking from within the ark, while the other God is speaking outside the ark. This is one of His greatest examples of salvation by grace in the First Testament. This certainly reveals that the paraphraser had a different theology or that they were just careless with truth. Either way, great theology is lost when the Words of God are changed.

The Twenty-Third Psalm

There is not one passage in the First Testament that is so filled with truth and glory as the twenty-third Psalm. This text is not only great in itself; it is also the golden text of the entire book of Psalms. The Holy Spirit has a unique place in every book of the Scriptures because He is the Spirit of Truth. The Father and the Son always reveal truth by the Holy Spirit. In Psalm twenty-three the office of the Holy Spirit is revealed for the entire book of Psalms. He is the rod and staff of the Great Shepherd. Let's look at this great text. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23:1-6, KJV).

As happens over and over in the paraphrased editions of the Bible, the paraphraser strikes out. It seems that they never get much right, and they sure failed in this great text. Let's look at the entire chapter from The Living Bible. "Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! He lets me rest in the meadow grass and leads me beside the quiet streams. He restores my failing health. He helps me do what honors him the most. Even when walking through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me, guarding, guiding all the way. You provide delicious food for me in the presence of my enemies. You have welcomed me as your guest; blessings overflow! Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever in your home." (Psalm 23:1-6, The Living Bible). The rod and staff are gone. The truth is gone. The beauty is gone. The excellent assurance is gone. The Holy Spirit is woefully missing. It's a paraphrased lie.

The Secret Place of Prayer is Gone

The Psalmist spoke of the great hiding place of prayer in Psalm ninety-one. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1, KJV). When the paraphrasers got through with this text the idea of prayer to keep us safe was missing. "We live within the shadow of the Almighty, sheltered by the God who is above all gods." (Psalm 91:1, The Living Bible).

Song of Solomon

This is the love book between the Lord Himself and His Bride. The Living Bible completely destroys the whole beauty of this love relationship. The truth says, "The song of songs, which is Solomon's. Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine. Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee." (Song of Solomon 1:1-4, KJV). The Lord Himself is as an ointment poured forth and the Holy Spirit is drawing the lovers to the joy of His fragrances. Yet, the paraphrasers miss the prophetic message. "The song of songs, which is Solomon's. Kiss me again and again, for your love is sweeter than wine. How fragrant your cologne, and how great your name! No wonder all the young girls love you! Take me with you; come, let's run!" (Song of Solomon 1:1-4, The Living Bible).

The Rock is Gone

The New International Version is filled with paraphrased lies. Remember, the meaning of a lie is to tell a partial truth or to leave out a part of the whole. The only way to keep a paraphrased story from being a lie is to warn the reader that the whole story has been changed. Of course, that would make a very cumbersome Bible. Look at this great text from the words of Jesus Christ Himself. "He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." (Luke 6:48, KJV). Jesus Christ Himself is unquestionably the "Rock" to which the Son of God refers.

Now, let's look at the NIV. "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built." (Luke 6:48, NIV). The paraphrasers say "rock" instead of "a rock" in the beginning of the text and then leave out the main use of the word, "rock," where the emphasis was established. There is a great difference in a "well built house" in the NIV and "house founded upon a rock." Here is the original Textus Receptus word-for-word translation, which shows the King James Bible to be a perfect English translation. "He is like a man building a house, who dug and deepened, and laid a foundation on the rock; and a flood happening, the stream burst against that house, and could not shake it, for it had been founded on the rock." (Luke 6:48, Textus Receptus).

Let's go back to Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life. One of the most distorted chapters is chapter thirty-one entitled, "Understanding Your Shape." This chapter totally distorts and mars the distinction between human abilities that all of us are born with and spiritual gifts imparted by the Holy Ghost. Let me give you the truth from the text he uses before I show his paraphrased lies. "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." (I Corinthians 12:4-6, KJV). This text has nothing to do with our abilities in our flesh, but with supernatural gifts imparted to a godly saint by the Holy Ghost.

Here is Warren's full statement with his paraphrased quote. "Only you can be you. God designed each of us so there would be no duplication in the world. No one has the exact same mix of factors that make you unique. That means no one else on earth will ever be able to play the role God planned for you. If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made. The Bible says, 'There are different kinds of spiritual gifts . . . different ways of serving . . . [and] different abilities to perform service.' (I Corinthians 12:4-6, Today's English Version in part)." (The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, p. 241.)

This is an extremely serious infraction against the Word of God and Rick Warren will be judged by the Biblical standard given earlier in this article. The problems with this confusion will be clearly understood by anyone familiar with rightly dividing the Word of God. The paraphrased Bible and Rick Warren both totally misrepresented the truth of Holy Scripture.

Antichrist Has Become an Anarchist

A paraphrased Bible called The Message is one of the worst. Let's look at a key passage in II Thessalonians which is filled with prophetic truths that are very important to understanding End-Time events. Most paraphrased Bibles are written to promote post-millennialism. I do not know one new version that could be called a pre-tribulation or pre-millennial text. I believe that factor is part of the push to eradicate the King James Version. Look at this passage in the beautiful language of the Authorized Bible. "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 2:3-12, KJV).

Now, look at The Message Bible. "Don't fall for any line like that. Before that day comes, a couple of things have to happen. First, the Apostasy. Second, the debut of the Anarchist, a real dog of Satan. He'll defy and then take over every so-called god or altar. Having cleared away the opposition, he'll then set himself up in God's Temple as "God Almighty." Don't you remember me going over all this in detail when I was with you? Are your memories that short? You'll also remember that I told you the Anarchist is being held back until just the right time. That doesn't mean that the spirit of anarchy is not now at work. It is, secretly and underground. But the time will come when the Anarchist will no longer be held back, but will be let loose. But don't worry. The Master Jesus will be right on his heels and blow him away. The Master appears and - puff! - the Anarchist is out of there. The Anarchist's coming is all Satan's work. All his power and signs and miracles are fake, evil sleight of hand that plays to the gallery of those who hate the truth that could save them. And since they're so obsessed with evil, God rubs their noses in it - gives them what they want. Since they refuse to trust truth, they're banished to their chosen world of lies and illusions." (II Thessalonians 2:3-12, The Message). We must identify the apparent losses:

The Antichrist is only an anarchist.

The simple words "falling away" are removed.

The whole idea of a "Restrainer" is missing.

The judgment of Antichrist is a "puff."

There is no picture of Christ's glorious return.

The wicked are banished rather than damned.

The whole passage is a joke compared to the strong, awesome language of the truth. This new text is simply a paraphrased lie.

Jesus Has a Mother and a Father?

One of the darkest facts about the new versions of Scripture is the influence of Catholic ideas, Bibles, and manuscripts. Rick Warren quotes from two different Catholic Bibles in his book, The Purpose Driven Life. I will give you three texts right out of one of them, which is entitled The New Jerusalem Bible. First, I'll give you the truth in all of these passages. "And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord." (Luke 2:22, KJV). "And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him." (Luke 2:33, KJV). "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it." (Luke 2:43, KJV). These texts preserve His purity and the fact that He had no need of purification. Also, preserved was the fact of His virgin birth and that He did not have an earthly father.

Now, look at what the Catholic Bible does to Him. I quote the same three texts out of the paraphrased Bible that was used by Mr. Warren. "And when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord." (Luke 2:22, The New Jerusalem Bible). "As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him." (Luke 2:33, The New Jerusalem Bible). "When the days of the feast were over and they set off home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem without his parents knowing it." (Luke 2:43, The New Jerusalem Bible. Red color added to words.). These Scriptures present a totally different Jesus that was taken for purification. Joseph is called His father and then he is called one of His parents. The New International Version paraphrases these verses with the very same corruptions.

Conclusion

The paraphrased Bibles, including Bibles labeled as "dynamic equivalent translations," are absolutely lying to millions. They misrepresent and change what God has spoken by the Holy Spirit. Rick Warren used ninety-nine quotes from The Message, sixty-four quotes from The Living Bible, and one hundred sixteen quotes from The New International Version, plus many more from other lying paraphrases. No wonder his language is clearly New Age jargon and psychological jabber.

After talking to different people that are true supporters of Rick Warren's bestseller, The Purpose Driven Life, there is one thing I see in each person. The person that internalizes his book will have a conversion called a paradigm shift. In many cases, that person may have already had the paradigm shift and the book will only add to their deception. One man called to debate my position and ended his argument by saying, "Rev. Chambers, Jesus is my buddy." I earnestly tried to show him the foolishness of calling Jesus his "buddy." His giddy reaction broke my heart for him. A new "Jesus" is flooding the lives of many by the paraphrased lies and the corrupt books they are spawning. Every lost soul will be on someone's account at the judgment. It's your duty to make sure your family isn't corrupted by these paraphrased lies.